Two related categories — smart tags and smart home appliances — are both on the rise, establishing themselves as an important part of the communications landscape, according to recent reports. Both have the ability to make day-to-day life easier, more efficient, and less expensive.

Smart tags: While still comparatively low, smart tag use in U.S. households has almost doubled — from 7% to 12% — since 2022, according to recent research from Parks Associates’ Tech Ecosystem Dashboard.

Apple’s AirTag is by far the champ in the sector. In the third quarter of last year, the Apple product had about 69% of the market (compared to a bit more than 40% during the first quarter of 2022). Samsung had about 25%, with a bit less than it had during the earlier quarter. The good news for the company is that it overtook Tile, the category originator, for second place.

Chipolo grew its percentage between the two quarters but was well under 5% in both. Orbit, a new entrant that also has well less than 5% of the market, is a newcomer.

“These small, inexpensive devices help consumers find lost or frequently misplaced items such as keys, wallets, luggage, and remote controls, as well as loved ones, like children and vulnerable older adults. They deliver valuable peace of mind and convenience,” Parks Associates’ Vice President Jennifer Kent said in a press release.

Smart Home Appliances: Earlier this month, Research and Markets said that the global market for the smart home appliance category was valued at $63.8 billion last year. The organization projects it to nearly double by 2030, to $125.6 billion. This equates to a compound annual growth rate of 11.9%.

Commentary in the Research and Markets press release says that smart home appliances — which include refrigerators, ovens, washing machines, and thermostats — offer features such as energy consumption monitoring, automated scheduling, and personalized settings. These both improve performance and reduce energy consumption.